Bethany
The only way I can avoid throwing up in my mouth a little, is to paddle the Elkhorn because I have paddled (and swum) it so many times
Maybe I'll come to the Mariott in the early early tomorrow and talk it over about this WV thing. I know I can do the Upper New, and I know that if I am too frightened by what's happening, I can just drive over to Fayette Station and run it till I'm blue in the face (oops, maybe not a good expression for a boater).
But the TN plateau is soooo beautiful!
Chris S

Chris Schardl

Brandon
You should come to you know you want to

Mark Dossett

Chris, the BSF Canyon @ 4k is what I would call class 3. There are a couple of interesting drops that will give you a pulse of adrenaline when you see their horizon lines. The 1st one is aka Jake's Ledge has a big boulder undercut on the right, a confused holes in the center but a really cool, kinda hidden, sneak chute on the left. I like to run this on the right taking a right to left ferry in front of the undercut and slide in behind the center hole then out the bottom. This weekend Chief ran in straight down the middle @ 700cfs but your mileage may vary at higher levels:-) The left sneak is a class 2 move.

Here's a video of a bunch of BWA running the sneak @ 1350cfs - it will be even easier at 4k:-) :
[www.americanwhitewater.org]

Here's a shot that shows the other side of Jake's Hole @ 700cfs - which really exposes that undercut.


The second one is this one - which looks like a mess from above the lip but is basically just a straight shot down the middle.



Meanwhile, don't worry be happy. It's summertime (!!) and there's so much water out there it's like picking between chocolate and strawberry...
barryg

Chris! Call Hanley to mull over WV options. I'd love to do laps at Fayette Station. Barry is right though. What a great predicament to have in mid-June!!!!!!!!

See you soon!
Bethany

What a tough decision! Any trip with Hanley is bound to be outstanding! He and Todd were my instructors at the first clinic, and I trust him implicitly. But this time I must cut the cord and head for points South. Thanks for all the arm twisting, Bethany. Still I expect I'll be paddling with you some time this summer. Are you going to the Pigeon/Nanty event being hosted by Brent on June 27-28?

Hanley: Happy Birthday, man!

Chris S.

Chris Schardl

Well, I've been off email all day (trying to finsh up at work so I could stay away all weekend with a Specail Session starting Monday AM). So I see I've missed some major conversation. Chris, I'm surprised at you. You should know me better than that.

Right now the New is running 24,000 CFS, which puts us off the gorge and the Dries, but the Upper New and the Upper Upper New are both still in play in a big way. Additionally, the Gauley is topping out right now at 3300. If it drops some before tomorrow, as I suspect it will, the Lower will still be a good viable option, and the Middle is always in.

Additionally, an extra 1000 CFS on the Lower (from Gauley Season release) really isn't as different as you think. You can notice the differences, but it opens up a lot and washes out in places, and certainly isn't any harder... but let's burn that bridge when we get to it.

Hanley

In route to a fun filled day on the Obed.
Helmet....check
PFD........check
Car keys......check

My brain is working better today. Barry, I will tell the rest of the story when I get back to my Mac. Hope everyone has a safe fun filled day where ever you may be going.

Well, let me talk about Thursday for a bit. It all started around 4PM, when I read a message about possibly running E. Prong of the Otter. Sounds like fun, and since I had been spending the vast majority of the week with my very ill grandmother at Central Baptist hospital, I could use some time on the water. The meet time was set for five o'clock so I loaded the boat, got my gear bag and I left Lexington headed for Madco. When I arrived and meet Barry, we decided the Muddy was the better option since E. Prong was not there. We drove over to cain springs, where we met up with Willie B. Barry and I left our vehicles at the cain springs takeout and loaded up with Willie to head to the top. On the way to the put-in, I realized I had been to the roll session the night before and had left my PFD hanging in the closet at home. Mistake number one of many! We get to the put-in and along with having no PFD, I also have no helmet due to the fact I left it in the car. Not that it was the best decision, I was ok with doing the muddy without a PFD, but I really didnt want to make the run without PFD nor helmet. Willie being the great guy that he is decided to run me back to cain springs to retrieve my helmet that my absent minded brain had totally forgot. Thanks Willie! We get back to the put-in, and now I have a helmet but no PFD. I'm ready to make the run. We get on the creek and after the first rapid I realize I have left my key laying in the console of Willie's truck! Damn it, where is my brain today. Other than having the ordeal surrounding my grandmother on my mind, there was no reason for me to make these silly mistakes. Once at the bottom, I have to wait while Barry runs everyone back to the top to get the vehicles, and for Willie to bring me my key back from his truck. Thanks again Willie, don't know what I would have done without you!

To all the others, I felt really bad that this affected us all at the takeout. While we had a good day on the river, on the way home I got a call that my grandmother had passed away. She was no longer in pain or suffering in the hospital. Getting om the water helped clear my mind, but that had to be the most scatter brained experience that I've had since I've been kayaking. Sorry to all it affected, and Willie, you da man!

Will, it was great to see ya out on the Obed. So sorry to hear about your grandmother, but I'd bet she's smiling knowing you were in such an incredible place with a great crew of folks on a perfect day.